Stage 5 Finish - Diana Carolin's Diary

The day started off fresh and chilly. Due to heavy rains the route was shortened and the start was delayed by an hour. At last we started and as I had some time to make up, I made an aggressive start. We raced through the mud and straight up the mountain. After a good slog to the top, where the views were quite spectacular, there was a treacherous descent and a chase along district roads to waterpoint 2. 

A quick washing off of chains and derailers and we were off again onto the Hoekwil road and into a head wind. Then right onto the old George road and into Saarsveld to waterpoint 3. A quick refuel with a couple of potatoes and onto the single track with 7kms to go. A final chase to the finish at George High School where a great welcome awaited us. At last I had claimed back the leaders jersey after 4 days.   I completed stage 5 with a great lead of 00:11:34 with a total time of 03:09:10.

For a detailed list of results, please click here.  For additional information about the race, please click here.  Follow me on twitter here.

Stage 3 Finish - Diana Carolin's Diary

Started off in Prince Albert this morning with cloudy and overcast weather. The first 30km was a hard slog along district road desperately clinging to the back of a group. Until, at last, we hit REAL Mountain biking territory. A lovely climb up the pass after water point 1 led into a fast technical down that rocked!!!! 

Water point 2 was the start of another long slog on the tar on my own. At last we turned off back onto district road. Then the storm hit and we got hailed on. There was some awesome single track to finish off. I finished first today, what an amazing ride!

For a detailed list of results, please click here.  For additional information about the race, please click here.  Follow me on twitter here.

Stage 2 Finish - Diana Carolin's Diary

Carlitzdorp to Prince Albert was a Journey into some of the darker places I have been in my cycling career. The first 75km's was a good ride and then we hit the bottom of the pass. At first I thought, what is all the fuss about? And then it slowly began to dawn on me as we started to climb steeper and steeper slopes. 

Each corner I thought this had to be the last one but it wasn't. At one stage I had to stop and have a pep talk with myself. At last a camera man said one more corner to go and there were the banners! A happy sight. Finished second in solo female group with a time of 05:46:14, just 4 mins behind the winner. 

For a detailed list of results, please click here.  For additional information about the race, please click here.  Follow me on twitter here.

Stage 1 Finish - Diana Carolin's Diary

After yesterdays success, I was to start in the front group with all the pros. Quite a daunting prospect. We set off behind the neutral zone car along the tar and then turned right onto the dirt and we were off. All was going well until I took a corner too fast and landed on the floor in a pile of dust. After straightening up my handlebars and dusting myself off it was back on the bike. 

We passed the rooiberg mountain which was stunning and all was going well. We slogged up the last climb and descended into the valley where I discovered I had a puncture so had to stop and plug it which cost me a lot of time. Thanks to my epic partner 2013 I was soon on my way again and apart from a bit of a cramp I finally reached the school in Carlitzdorp and at last the finish.  I am currently in 3rd position in the Solo Women category with a time of 05:17:51.

For a detailed list of results, please click here.  For additional information about the race, please click here.  Follow me on twitter here.

Prologue Finish - Diana Carolin's Diary

Diana Carolin is a vary talented solo cyclist in the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 2012 who has agreed to share her experiences throughout the trek with Wilde 100% Fruit Juice:

The prologue started at 13h48 for me. We had ridden the course this morning so I had a good idea of what lay ahead so I rode out of the start like a scalded cat past the dam and took a sharp right onto some single track and settled into a steady pace toward the first climb - Up a concrete track under the ' Bridge' bridge.

The single track was fantastic and rode brilliantly with the added benefit of cheers along the way made all the difference. In no time at all and after passing quite a few riders, the sign for 3 kms to go was just ahead. 

Then it was all guns blazing to the finish and over the line in 00:50:03.

For a detailed list of results, please click here.  For additional information about the race, please click here.